, 1887-12-11

you your life's happiness. And I am
obliged to stand helplessly by, and am
powerless to defend you from the in
truder"-
what do you mean, Herr Won Mont
gre?' asked Edith, looking at him in sur
prise.
Don't try to mislead me, Edith; ]
know all. l know that they want you
to marry this worthless chamberlain; he
told me so himself just now-the oun
drel!''
While the young tutor was clustering
out the above words in the greatest ire,
and was beating the sand with his cane
emphatically, Edith concealed her face
in her lace handkerchief, to prevent him
from seeing the glad look it wore at hear
ing his angry words.
And if it were true, why should you
become angry about it, Herr Won Mont
gree she said with well ssuIned indiffer-
ence.
Can you ask, Edith" he said, beside
himself with passion. Because l love
you, love you with all the ardor of my
soul, and because ! know that YOU love
me-"
1t was then Edith's turn to lose COM
posture,
Il don't understand you, Herr Won
Montgre." she said, with a poor attempt
to speak reprovingly. her beautiful face
covered with bushes.
Edith, he said, taking her hand and
tcnderly pressing it in his, ''you do love
me: | feel it, | know it. 1t was in this
park VIZ Sunday morning, at this very
spot. that l discovered it. l had been
telling you a story of an angel-my blessed
mother now in heaven-and had brought
you a portrait of her. When you thought
you were alone you covered it with tears
and kisses. l saw you through those
boughs there without intending to do so.
Edith, when / witnessed that silent con
fession, 1 knew that your heart was
mine mine through all eternityl'
''Reinhard!'
She stood before him, az she softly
spoke his Christian name for the first
time, like an angel of light from heaven;
from the tear %glistening eyes shone beams
of holy felicity. the confirmation of his
words.
mo, no, Edith, darling, my lost one,
not the seductive picture of happinessl
1t can never be! 1 am your brothers
would be madness. Our fates are there
~ VIC AaAi Il ldA ma
"Reinhard, you are deceiving your
self; there is nothing between us except
your indomitable pride; conquer that,
and l am yours
My pridel AS if that were all-the
wish of the queen-the proposal of the
chamberlain the traditional pride of
your family"-
"You are mistaken, my dear friend.
The queens chamberlain does not dream
of marrying me. He has a wife and five
children"
Edith but how was it then? he
said to me a few moments since that he
had already gotten your mothers con
sent and would make you a formal pro-
posal today'-
sob, yes, " laughed Edith, ga proposal
to become one of the ladies at court to
the queen, who did me the honor to in
terest herself somewhat in me during
my stay at the capital. And who knows
but l may yet accept if a certain gentle
man, out of silly obstinacy, continues
to-
Edith said Montgre, blushing with
the new found happiness. "Do you
think your mother would ever consent
to it?''
Eyes, Reinhard, l not only think it
but / Know she would; you nave been,
since the death of my father, her truest
friend and adviser; she respects and hon
ors you, and admires your character,
and l know that she would be proud to
call such a man son."
"Edith-really-O heavenl Then I
may call you sweetheart-wife?"
"Yes, Reinhard," she whispered,
while he drew the graceful figure into
his arms and covered the pretty mouth
with kisses.
+ = = i
Next day his excellency returned dis
appointed to the capital, bearing the
unwelcome message:
1.-THE Comtesse Edith most deeply re-
grets to decline the high honor conferred
on her by her most gracious majesty the
queen, but her engagement with and her
approaching marriage to Herr Won Mont
gre would render it impossible"
Her majesty was somewhat piqued,
but g%raciously presented the happy couple
with a costly tea service with her best
wishes.
Nobody at the castle was so much de-
lighted as little Graf Alphonse that the
''stork legged" Excellency had to return
without Comtesse Edith.
The day after their return from their
extensive bridal tour the couple had
sought the quiet seat near the cascade
where their first words of love were ex-
changed.
"Are you thinking of that problem of
the parallel lines, Reinhard?" she asked,
smiling.
He nodded.
(Which extend indefinitely in the
same direction-always the same dis
lance apart" she quoted, playfully.
There are exceptions, " he said, as he
drew the sweet, sunny face toward him
until it rested IN his shoulder, and the
deep eyes gazed into his full of happy
confidence and love.-Translated for The
Waverley Magazine by w. N. Harlem.
BolivIa's Mineral Wealth.
Bolivia is doubtless the richest in min